Dr. Carolyn Reed, Chief of General Thoracic Surgery at MUSC, discusses esophageal cancer, distinguishing between two forms. She notes that although rare in comparison with other varieties of cancer, esophageal cancer is very aggressive. Dr. Reed explains how the anatomy of the esophagus contributes to both the aggressiveness of the cancer as well as its difficulty to treat. To conclude this cancer podcast, she outlines steps for patient evaluation as well as various treatment options, which are dependent upon the status of the tumor itself and also potential spread to other areas.